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Rep. Meeks Passes Amendment to Expedite Rockaway Beach Report

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks introduced and passed an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act that aims to expedite the Army Corps of Engineers super-storm Sandy recovery study. Though funding has already been appropriated for coastal protections, construction awaits the finalization of the already completed report. Expediting the process should allow construction to move ahead of schedule. Rep. Meeks issued the following statement following the amendment’s passage:

“While we continue to search for short-term solutions to address this summer’s closure, we must also work towards long-term solutions for protecting our coast from further erosion, and fast-track plans to safeguard our beaches. With my recently passed amendment, I have moved to expedite the approval process of the Army Corps of Engineers report, with the hope we can move forward with the construction of coastal protections. Should this bill become law, my amendment should allow our beaches to be made safe and operational as soon as possible, in time for next summer.

“The residents and businesses affected by this closure cannot afford to wait another year for the Army Corps of Engineers to finalize their report. They require immediate action, and that is what this amendment provides.”